Thank you to netgalley and waitlyn andrews for an eARC of Yes, Chef.

I really enjoyed the focus on working in the restaurant kitchen and daily activities of being a chef. I liked both characters and found their relationship to be believable, if a bit rushed. I do feel like the ending tries to wrap things up a bit too perfectly. Overall, this is a fun and easy read!

YES, CHEF is a delightfully sweet read with two main characters that are clearly meant for each other in the most wholesome way. James is so smitten with Claire that he's not quite sure how to act around her and comes off critical and gruff meanwhile in reality he's the complete opposite. What a joy of a ride it was to see their story and connection unfold. I enjoyed Claire meeting James's family and seeing the dynamic of his family. Don't be surprised if you end up getting hungry while diving into this French cuisine-focused world!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital arc in exchange for my review.

Chef Claire has moved to Paris to get away from her past trauma and relationships. Her only goal in life is to help the restaurant she works at earn it's first Michelin star. She is comfortably in her groove when the owner hires a new head chef in James Sullivan. At first, she thinks he hates her and then they slowly develop a friendship that could potentially turn into more. This was a super cute read! I really enjoyed the characters, James is quite literally the perfect man. *Spoiler Ahead* I also truly appreciate that there was no third-act breakup. I would recommend this rom-com to romance lovers for a quick read with good banter but no spice.

Fans of The Bear will enjoy this sweet grumpy boss to lovers book! Set in Paris, Claire Richards is working at Teaks, a restaurant aiming for a Michelin star. Claire is an aspiring chef with a heart of gold and love for food. Her boss hires the James Sullivan, a brooding blond Chef from New York to oversee the restaurant operations. He’s grumpy and hypercritical for the first couple weeks but a quick drive for specialty oil, there’s a change of heart for this male love interest. Claire is a lover of books and proving the world she doesn’t need her family’s connections to make it in the world. They become friends both in and out of the restaurant. It is definitely a slow burn! The pacing for me is a little off because it really exhilarates at the end. There is a little conflict but Claire gains the confidence to overcome. I did enjoy the did bits of cooking. It’s definitely a 🌶️ out 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. Enjoyed the read!

"Yes, chef" sweeps readers into an endearing rom-com amidst the culinary wonders of the City of Light. Claire, an aspiring chef from the United States, embarks on a new chapter in her life by moving to Paris to work at a trendy and up-coming restaurant on the quest for a Michelin star. Little did she know that she would encounter James, the charismatic head chef, who ignites sparks of attraction and from the moment they meet.

As the story unfolds, Claire and James find themselves drawn together beyond the professional kitchen, discovering a shared love for exploring the city's bustling markets and enjoying each other's company after long days at work. The author skillfully paints a vivid picture of Parisian life, allowing readers to savor the romance of cobblestone streets, cozy cafes, and delightful markets as they delve into the world of gastronomy.

Claire's journey of self-discovery is an enchanting aspect of the book. While pursuing her culinary dreams, she grapples with the complexities of her relationship with her difficult mother, choosing to keep a distance to protect herself. This dynamic adds emotional depth to the story and resonates with readers who can relate to navigating familial challenges.

The romance between Claire and James blooms gradually, from strangers to friends and eventually to lovers. Their genuine connection and shared passion for food make them endearing and relatable characters. James, in particular, shines as the epitome of a caring and attentive partner, winning the hearts of readers along the way.

Food enthusiasts will find themselves tantalized by the mouthwatering descriptions of culinary delights woven throughout the narrative. Each chapter begins with exquisite details about something food related, immersing readers in a sensory experience that leaves them craving the flavors and aromas of Parisian cuisine. I've even been inspired by Claire to try her famous olive oil and sea salt chocolate mousse.

In summary, "Yes, Chef" is an enchanting tale that blends romance, gastronomy, and self-discovery in the enchanting backdrop of Paris. The captivating narrative, relatable characters, and delectable food descriptions make it an enticing read for both food enthusiasts and lovers of heartwarming romance.

Yes, Chef is the story of Claire Richards, a chef who moved across the world to Paris to find her own way in life as well as try to get a michelin star at the restaurant. At Teaks, she meets Chef James Sullivan, the new head chef. As attractive as she finds him, she's sworn off of workplace romance.

I initially had a hard time getting into this story, but I ultimately found it to be a great read! I was interested in this story because I love cooking shows and had recently watched The Bear and really loved it. Claire and James are both loveable characters, but I also really loved the side characters as well. The way James cares for Claire, especially before they are even together, is probably my favorite part. This is Waitlyn's debut book and I can't wait to see what else she comes out with!

Thank you to Waitlyn Andrews and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book was such a fun read. I really felt like I was in Paris with Claire. Of course, I would be a lot happier if I was in Paris with a super hot chef, but I digress. I really enjoyed seeing their dynamic shift and how Claire grew more confident in her abilities.

I recommend to fans of Emily in Paris and Ali Hazelwood.

I absolutely adored this slow burn romance! Their banter was cute, the behind the scenes look at working in a kitchen was interesting and I love that it was set in Paris! Definitely made me want to visit!

I think a few things can be cleaned up in the way of typos and grammatical mistakes, but I think that's pretty typical of an ARC!
I wish there was more details when it came to certain points. Like her history with Henry, Evie and Gabes date, more banter (it felt like for a lot of the book he was just rude to her). I think we also would have benefited from some James POV.

Overall I loved the story and I would definitely read more from this debut author!

Thank you NetGalley and Waitlyn Andrew's for this ARC!

This started off so promising. Although it was described as "closed door," I didn't think that meant celibate until marriage and that there might be a hint of marriage at the end of the book....as such, I'm not sure that I would even classify this book as romance, closed door or not. Again, had it not been billed as romance, I could have given more leeway but the murky morality of the situation obfuscated the ending of the book and took it on a path I didn't much care for. The first half was very good, both in and out of the kitchen with the banter, a bit of enemies to friends and cooking. Hope you have better luck!

Yes, Chef comes out next week on August 3, 2023 and you can purchase HERE.

"I've had it bad for you for a while, all right? If you need time, take it, but I'm right here waiting for you.

OVERALL RATING: 3.5 STARS

Yes, Chef is a cozy culinary workplace romance and a debut novel from Waitlyn Andrews. The story follows sous chef Claire Richards and renowned Michelin star chef James Sullivan as they cross paths in Paris, the city of love and good food. As a reader, I found the story to be an interesting sneak peek into the culinary industry. I'm a normal person who likes food as much as anybody else, and this story really humanized chefs and restauranteurs in my eyes, as well as opened them to the routine, the dedication and sheer agility that it takes to succeed as a chef.

However, this is first and foremost a romance, and it was a very slow burn with lots of tension-building moments that left me desperate to flip to the next page. This book took a closed-door approach to the spice, and although I'm used to the gratification of spice in my romance books, it felt like a welcome change to me as a reader the more I progressed through the story. The focus was very obviously the dynamic between Claire and James and the building of their friendship - slow, cautious, comfortable - as a foundation for the romance. It was different for me, but not bad. The intimate moments they shared were deliciously good and giggle-inducing, which was enough gratification for me. Also, James Sullivan is HOT. Like, not just the way he's described physically, but his personality and his entire being. Get you man as confident, self-aware, patient, sweet and just clingy enough as James Sullivan.

Unfortunately, there were some parts of the story that felt unfinished and glossed over. There were details that were mentioned but were never weaved back into the story, just left for the reader to guess why they were mentioned or added in the first place (the article about the Claire and James; the date between Evie and Gabe; Henry and Claire's confrontation, Dad's heart attack and the emotional impact of this on Claire). Some of these things were resolved TOO quickly for my liking. The details could have been expounded on and incorporated better into the story.

I also felt like it got a little monotonous and repetitive at some points. I understand that the routine of it all is what lends the cozy and intimate vibe to Claire and James' relatjionship, but they do the same thing over and over again in almost every chapter, with almost the same descriptions and with little variations over time. It was cute the first few chapters, but after awhile, it got really draggy.

The ending also felt rushed and unfinished. Again, I just couldn't shake off the feeling that things were resolved too quickly. What about Claire's feelings about her family? What about the Henry situation?

Lastly, the way Claire spoke about some of the other women in the story left a bad taste in my mouth. She repeatedly referred to one of the female characters as a bitch, although not completely with malice (it turned into an endearment, but still?), she made comments about other women's clothing choices and their fake boobs, their valley girl accents and the way she just could NEVER be that kind of girl. I also noticed most of the other women she doesn't like in the story are blondes. What does she have against blondes??? It just seemed like Claire has a personal vendetta against a specific type of woman, which I really don't like about her. She's not a girl's girl at all.

Overall, Yes, Chef was cute and fun, but leaves a few things to be desired. A light-hearted rom-com read if you want to turn your brain off and enjoy chefs falling in love in Paris. 3.5 stars.


P.S. - To the publishers, please double check for typos and spelling errors. Thank you!

I will be posting a short review of this book on my TikTok account soon.

Before anything, I would like to thank you and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, it was a pleasant book to read, fast paced, with a cute romance storyline, and nice details. However, it had a lot of things that I didn't enjoy like typos, relationship with a power imbalance, and things happening either too slowly or too quickly. It is nothing out of this world but it definitely is a solid book to have an enjoyable time with.

**Positives**
- Information about food at the beginning of each chapter really enhanced the ambiance;
- Writing style that made the reading pace fly by;
- Curiosity about the main character's backstory kept me engaged;
- Well established routine that made the characters feel more real and also made it feel like I knew them better;
- Male love interest that is actually interested, caring, and sweet;
- Small details connecting parts of the story making them feel more meaningful;
- Cute scenes that made me giggle and almost scream of excitement.

**Negatives**
- Waaaay too many typos and mistakes;
- Slow burn that burned way too slowly and then way too quickly when it did;
- Recurrent comparisons of the romance with novels, breaking the forth wall and trying to be something it's not. It's okay to be a novel and you can totally say a guy smells like clean soap and his eyes look like Levi blue jeans without implying that your story "is not like other stories";
- Kinda romanticizing workplace relationships with a power imbalance (worker and a boss);
- Both characters seem a little too flawless, and when flaws are pointed out they are talked about in a positive light and it doesn't affect their lives negatively;
- Last plot point was way too rushed.

My first 5 star read in a while and it was well earned. I loved everything about this read. The characters, the setting, and the food all thrown together was the perfect blend.

Claire, a chef on a mission for a star and has no interest in a relationship after her previous one went so spectacularly wrong, is not expecting to be thrown for a loop. Especially not by James Sullivan, the chef with the piercing blue eyes and the negative attitude to match. The slow burn of this romance was real and by the time they made it together I couldn't help but squeal from happiness. James is everything you could want in a man. Supportive, the right amount of protective, and handsome.

I cannot wait to read whatever comes next from this debut author because this read just shot her right into my automatic purchase list.

Rating- 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Yes, Chef by Waitlyn Andrews was like that slice of best cheesecake that you eat after being on a diet for a long time. It was light, fluffy, gave me butterflies and soothed an ache that I didn't even know I had. This book had it all for me tbh. Exploring the streets of Paris along with delicious food with a gorgeous and smitten Chef?? Count me in!!!

Read it if you like-
-Chef Romance
-Confident FMC who is working on herself
-A brilliant chef who likes to read
-Delicious food and lots of cheese
-forced proximity
-Paris!

Synopsis- Claire Richards has sworn off romantic relationships, stifling family expectations, and self-doubt and came to Paris to carve her own path of Culinary success. She is determined to get her restaurant a Michelin star. She wants to live her best life in Paris and not think about her cheating ex or Meredith-Blake-of-a-Mother or get into any kind of romantic relationship really.
That is, until a tall, all-American golden boy joins her team as the new Head Chef of Teaks. Chef James Sullivan is too attractive for his own good. But, lucky for her, he only chooses to acknowledge her presence when he's critiquing her work every five minutes. Maybe she can tune out those broad shoulders and denim blue eyes....if only those eyes would stop staring at her so intently.

My thoughts-
🗼I loved that the FMC saw a vision for herself and went for it even after so many hurdles. She is living in Paris.. I mean come on!!!
🗼The MMC was as attentive, respectful and the greenest flag of a book bf as they come. I didn't even know I needed it until I was hit by a cinnamon-roll-blue-eyed-truck that is Chef James Sullivan!
🗼The story actually showed that you don't have to change your nature for someone to love you. Be your unapologetic self and your person will love you for all of it.
🗼And don't even get me started on the first ‘baby’ he called her!! Oh my heart! I couldn't even believe I was capable of gushing over a simple ‘baby’ after reading so many dark romances.
🗼And the food!! Omg the food

So If you are between intense fantasy reads, i would suggest this one as a palette cleanser. If not, then still read it. It's just adorable and swoon worthy.
Definitely recommend it for romance lover foodies!!

Look out for the book when it releases on 3rd August, 2023.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review

3.75 stars~

I loved the premise of this book. Claire is working in a restaurant in Paris that is aiming to get a star, when suddenly hot chef James shows up. I love the grumpy MMC and the fact that they are neighbors, and being able to see their relationship grow throughout the story as they get to know each other more.

There were a lot of aspects that I liked about this book, but also some things that turned me off. For example, I think the last chapters of this book seemed a bit rushed after seeing the buildup of their relationship. Like getting married less than 5 days after saying that you love someone seems like a big leap for me. Another thing that I didn’t like a ton was that Claire kept mentioning that she was super against workplace romances and it felt like that kinda just slipped away once it was convenient to move the story forward. James is such a good love interest and I absolutely adored him and definitely made the whole read worth it.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book! This review is entirely my own.

3.5 stars
I was looking forward to reading this romcom as it was based in Paris (the food! the sights! the romance!) and it was this author's debut and the cover was cute. It is a slow burn, grumpy to sunshine, coworker romance tropes. James and Claire were good MC's however I would've liked to have James' POV. As it was a slow burn, it was great when they finally got together however the ending was way too rushed and ruined the book for me. They elope so quickly it felt unnatural....the whole build up for the rush of marriage. UGH

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This debut romance novel made me cheer for chefs Claire and James toiling furiously, delectably, to achieve a Michelin star for a new Parisian restaurant. The recipes they cook are delicious, the insider's look at kitchen work authentic and eye-opening, and Claire and James' slow burn to forever love truly delightful. One of my fav romances this year. Sequel, please!

Claire has recently moved to Paris to continue her career as a chef working at a restaurant that is hoping to go for a Michelin star. Enter James Sullivan, the grumpy head chef who also comes from the states.

The slow burn in this book with the grumpy / sunshine trope was done well. It was fun to feel the tension between them and feel them falling in love. You just want to say “get together already!” I do think the ending was a little rushed however. Everything happened quickly at the end but it’s a romance so of course everyone lives happily ever after!

As someone who has worked in fine dining and met / married their spouse working in such a place, I was so excited to read this! This being a debut novel, I think the author did an excellent job. The plot was fun, with situations and language pretty spot on to what you’d find in a kitchen/restaurant. The way the food, the recipes, and earning a star were described was great. It really felt authentic and exiting.

I give this a solid 4/5 and will recommend to others because it was a fun and enjoyable read!

thanks netgalley for the arc!
i desperately wanted to like this book - a fun romance in a restaurant setting in paris was teed up to be great but unfortunately i was left disappointed.
for me, there was no chemistry at all between the two main characters. their relationship was quite literally zero to one hundred, and the pacing of the last 30% or so of the book really killed it off for me. i also could've done without the constant use of ocd to describe 'quirky' behaviours.
the plot itself was a solid idea, and the chef details and being set in the food world was so fun! but overall the ship here was just not strong enough to carry the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the eARC.

3.5/5⭐’s

As a debut novel, I think the author did an excellent job. The plot was nice, with incredible characters each one of them having personalities. None of the characters were boring. I think the author did an amazing job of giving elaborative descriptions of most of the things. The way she described food, recipes, Paris, the chef’s lifestyle and overall passion for cooking was absolutely incredible. Moreover, the tension, banter and the way both protagonists were pining for each other was exciting. I think the slow burn was done exceptionally well.

But, the last 30% of the book was somewhat rushed and bland. The author put so much work into building up something(successfully) for 70% of the book only for it to just end like that. Everything and I mean everything(dating, marriage, kids, own house/restaurant) happens in the last 30% of the book. I feel like it would have been better if it was longer and their dating phase was extended a bit. All of it happened so quickly that it leaves the reader with a sense of disappointment. This book is a solid 4.5/5 if the pace was managed properly.

Overall, I think you should definitely give it a go because their lives in Paris would want you to leave everything and join a culinary school.

Claire has moved to Paris to pursue a career as a chef after working as one back in the states.
She is working at a restaurant that is looking to get a Michelin star. She is introduced to James, also from the states and the head chef.
She feels sparks, but will not dare anyone from work.
Claire and James find out they live close to each other and begin going to the markets for ingredients together and spending evenings after work together.
We know that Claire’s mom is difficult and Claire prefers to keep her at arms length.
This book is charming as we watch Claire and James fall in love and PARIS helps as a prefect back drop.
I only wish for more regarding how her mother dealt with her as I feel that could have been wrapped up cleaner.
This book is by a new author and thanks to @netgalley for the advance copy!